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Well, you've gotta admit--Michele Soavi certainly knows how to make a good movie. And this two-part serial is no exception. Kim Rossi Stuart plays a cop who is assigned to investigate a series of violent bank robberies and cop-killings. While on duty, his friend is shot in the head by one of the criminals linked to the gang. Stuart then goes on a personal crusade to nail down the leader of the criminal organization. This film is a colossal production running somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 hours! Although it bears many of the earmarks of American television productions, it nevertheless proves to be an extremely enjoyable, action-packed, and suspense-filled ride. Soavi is another one of those pioneering Italian directors who now find themselves doing work for television--just about the only guaranteed market in Italy these days. Anyway, he turns out this film with a mastery that keenly reflects the years spent working with Deodato, Argento, D'Amato, and others. I doubt this will ever get an American release, so any version available will probably be in Italian. However, this does not in any way detract from the enjoyability of this film. By the way, Kim Rossi Stuart is the son of veteran Italian actor Giacomo Rossi Stuart.

This film seems to be Lenzi's way of poking fun at his own cannibal gore films. Two college students decide to take a vacation to the Amazon. While in a small village getting supplies, they provoke the anger of a local scoundrel, whose ruffians beat them up. After renting a boat and sailing down the river in search of some good scenery, the two kids become lost and are forced to jump in the water to avoid a cascade. Now totally lost, they enter a small village, where the natives eye them mysteriously. It is here that they meet a bizarre jungle female, who happens to be the last survivor of a helicopter crash that occurred years ago. She soon develops a bond with the two adventurers, and many funny things happen throughout the movie. When compared to Lenzi's other jungle films, this is a distinct let-down. However, when viewed on its own merits, it proves to be a highly enjoyable and entertaining film. The Italian-language version is really the one to get, because all other versions either play up the comedy element too much, or try to present this film as another cannibal epic. This also contains a few well-used pieces of Budy Maglione's music--which shows that maybe Lenzi really DID want to spoof his previous films. Anyway, Sabrina Siani is excellent as the jungle girl, and Sal Borgese plays a great criminal. Director Lenzi proves once again that he is no novice when it comes to creating a believable, entertaining genre film. Well done!

This is really one heck of a film! It contains all the sleaziness of a 42nd Street production, with the grace and style of the classic Italian exploitation film. So, I guess the resultant product is something that might called a "crossover" film. The story concerns a young gigolo who is trying to make his way in the Big Apple. While there, he works as a male stripper, a dog walker, and several other wacky occupations. Eventually, he is caught in the allure of the 42nd Street porn scene. Real-life porn actors Carter Stevens, Susan McBain, Wade Nichols, R. Bolla, Al Levitsky, and others, all have decent rolls in this film. In fact, Susan McBain (who appears billed as Susan Elliot) gets a very sizeable role as the main character's girlfriend. What makes this film so great is the fantastic amount of footage taken in and around the seediest areas of the city. (Scattini must have had a bodyguard in order to go into these areas with his crew). Anyway, the film shows a mastery and style that is seldom seen in similar productions of this period. BLUE NUDE also features Giacomo Rossi Stuart as a smug, malicious blackmailer. As well, Piero Umiliani contributes another one of his soundtracks--although this one is not so memorable as his other scores. I could go on for paragraphs saying how much I loved this film, but will leave it to the viewer to see for himself!